TEXTILES.ORG
Arda Biomaterials, headquartered in London, England, turns waste from beer and whiskey production into New Grain™, an animal- and plastic-free leather alternative.
Founded in 2022, the company partners with local breweries and distilleries to collect spent grain and whiskey draff. The
plant proteins from the by-products are isolated and reconstructed to resemble animal proteins, resulting in a material that feels similar to animal leather.
Compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing, New Grain can be tailored to meet the needs of any market, such as fashion, automotive and home goods. The material’s color, texture and performance properties are also customizable.
In 2024, Arda Biomaterials released the first products made with New Grain, a line of cardholders, in collaboration with Beavertown Brewery. The cardholders featured spent grain from the Heineken-owned brewery in London.
The company also collaborated with BEEN London, a sustainable fashion accessories brand and design studio, to release five prototypes made with New Grain. These included handbags, tennis-racket pouches and whiskey bottle holders.
New Grain is naturally black with no added dye but can be lightened and turned into browns, reds and greens. Its tensile
and tear strength and abrasion resistance are like those of animal and synthetic leather.
Currently, Arda is receiving support from AB InBev, makers of Anheuser-Busch beer, to develop New Grain using AB InBev’s breweries’ spent grain.